They have one of the most gregarious and likeable head coaches in the nation.  They get less respect from the media and their fan base (as compared to the hoops squad) than Rodney Dangerfield. And, they have a head-coach-in-waiting named Joker.

But, if they haven’t already learned their lesson, opponents of the 2009 University of Kentucky Wildcats will soon find out that taking them on is no laughing matter.

Seemingly entrenched on college football’s hot seat, all UK Head coach Rich Brooks has managed to do is lead UK to bowl wins in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history while also winning at least 7 games for three consecutive seasons for the first time in almost 60 years.

Now, after navigating his team through a 7-6 campaign that was capped by a Liberty Bowl win over East Carolina, and included near-misses against SEC powerhouses Alabama and Georgia, Brooks believes it is time for his program to rise to the next level.

“Somebody had the intelligence and guts to weather the storm and allow this thing to move forward,” Brooks said of his rocky first three years at the UK helm.

“Now, you know, we need to climb the ladder. This is not good enough. Going to Bowl games and winning them isn’t good enough. We need to compete for the SEC championship.”

If Kentucky is going to move up the ranks in the brutal SEC East, it will have to find a way to establish an offensive identity after struggling mightily at times last year.  The Wilcats won’t lack for experience up front with four senior starters led by Zipp Duncan (6’5 285). 

Duncan, a Kentucky native, signed with UK in the hopes of helping turn the program around, and he has done just that.  As he has done throughout his career, Duncan will change positions in 2009, as he moving from the interior of the offensive line to the all-important left tackle spot. 

He will be joined on the line by projected senior starters Justin Jeffries (6-6 320), Jorge Gonzalez (6-3 300) and Christian Johnson (6-4 330).

That group will be hard-pressed to equal its pass protection prowess from 2008, when the Wildcats gave up a mere 13 sacks.  However, if it can provide similar protection this season, junior quarterback Mike Hartline should emerge as more of a playmaker than the game manager he was a year ago.  If not, a vocal segment of the UK fan base may gets its wish–significant playing time for Hartline’s backup, junior Will Fidler.

Leading receiver Dicky Lyons, Jr. is gone, so Randall Cobb will be looked to, at least early, as the team’s primary playmaker. Cobb played quarterback and wide receiver last year as a true freshman, and was vital to UK’s success. 

He should spend most of his time at WR in 2009, though, and Brooks is expecting big things for Cobb following a season in which he threw for 542 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for 316 yards and seven more scores.   Brooks also plans on using him as a QB in the “Wildcat” formation.

UK needs a second receiving target to emerge, and all signs point to it eventually being JUCO transfer Chris Matthews, who played Hardball at Los Angeles Harbor College in 2008 by making 86 receptions and posting numbers to match his freakish specs–6’6’ 210 4.4.

Gene McCaskill and Kyrus Lanxter also have big-play ability, but need to show it consistently on the field.  Tight end T.C. Drake had a dozen catches last year, and will look to be more of a threat in the passing game.

The running back corps is led by Alfonso Smith, who took a short pass and sprinted 71-yards down the sideline versus Arkansas for a game-changing touchdown in 2008.  Also in the mix will be junior Moncell Allen, and Derrick Locke.

Locke, a former track standout, looked to be a potential star after filling in because of injuries and gaining 521 rushing yards in 2007.  He suffered a career-threatening knee injury in 2008, though, and will be out to prove that he is still explosive.

On the defensive side of the ball, Kentucky lost a ton of talent (7 starters, including three defensive lineman) but return a pair of the best defenders in the SEC in cornerback Trevard Lindley (6-0 179) and Micah Johnson (6-2 256).

Lindley, a Georgia native, shocked many by passing up big NFL bucks to return for his senior season.  He is a lockdown cornerback with a nose for the ball.  Unlike most NFL-ready CBs, he is not a big talker– he lets his play on the field speak for itself

“Trevard Lindley, simply put, can line up against any receiver in the country one on one,” Brooks said. “And we would have a very optimistic feeling that he’s going to cover ‘em pretty darn good the whole game, not allow a lot of big plays. He not only can cover, he can make plays.”

Arkansas fans would like to forget Lindley.  He returned a Michael Smith fumble 66-yards for a touchdown just before halftime in Kentucky’s 42-29 win in Fayetteville over the Darren Mcfadden/Felix Jones-led Hogs in 2007.  The other starting cornerback, Randall Burden figures to have his hands full, as teams will likely avoid Lindley’s side of the field.  If Burden struggles, Paul Warford will get a long look.

At safety, Winston Guy (6-1 208) has the look of a player that is poised for a breakout season.  Guy, a Lexington, KY native, verbally committed to play for Arkansas two years ago, but later decided to stay home and play for UK.

He started his career as a cornerback, but moved to safety (while also excelling on special teams) and has taken to the position.  Many observers (including his head coach) predict Guy will emerge as a star.  Ashton Cobb and Calvin Harrison will also be in the mix in the secondary.

The linebackers are led by Johnson, a Ft. Campbell, KY native, who was one of the most highly touted recruits in school history, and last year, he showed why–racking up 93 tackles and earning 1^st Team All-SEC honors.  He, like Lindley, could have opted to leave school early and turn pro, but instead decided to return.

Sophomore Danny Trevathan (6-1, 220) will be asked to replace the production of the departed Braxton Kelly (93 tackles in ‘08) and Brooks thinks he has the talent to do so.  Sam Maxwell (6-3 248) will man the strong side, and he looks the part of an SEC linebacker.

While the unexpected return of Lindley and Johnson was fortunate, UK missed out on a defensive star trifecta when potential All-American defensive end Jeremy Jarmon also eschewed the chance to take his wares to the NFL, only to later be suspended by the NCAA after testing positive for a banned suspended.  The Washington Redskins drafted Jarmon in the NFL supplemental draft, giving up a third-round pick in 2010 to do so.

With Jarmon out of the picture, Cory Peters (6-3 295) is the only returning starter on the defensive line–but he is a good one, with All-SEC caliber talent.  Ricky Lumpkin(6-4 294) should start at the other tackle and JUCO transfer Mark Crawford (6-1 297) will provide interior depth.  Neither will be the force that Myron Pryor was on the inside, but they should be solid.  If eligible, incoming freshman Donte Rumph (6-3 260) could vie for immediate playing time.

On the edge, the ‘Cats will look to replace Jarmon’s explosiveness with Chandler Burden and Collins Ukwe (6-5 251).  Both have talent, and should mature as players throughout the year.

The schedule could be very problematic for UK.  The Wildcats open with Miami University (OH) and then have an open date before a three-week homestand that might leave UK battered and bruised.  The stretch opens with a clash against Louisville (that UK should win) but it closes with Florida and Alabama coming to Lexington in consecutive weeks.  Then, UK hits the road to face South Carolina and Auburn.

That is a stretch that could make any coach, even the inimitable Brooks, a little worse for wear.  If Kentucky can avoid a disastrous start, the schedule eases on the backstretch, with a roadtrip to Georgia being the only time UK will likely be a big underdog.  Look for the Wildcats to do some serious damage along the way, and vie for a fourth-straight bowl win if they can survive the first half of the season.

Kentucky Offense:

Returning starters: 9

Key Players: QB Mike Hartline, OT Zipp Duncan, WR Randall Cobb

One to Watch: WR Chris Matthews

Kentucky Defense:

Returning Starters: 4

Key Players: Trevard Lindley, CB, LB Micah Johnson, LB, Cory Peters, DT

One to Watch: Winston Guy, S

Key Game(s): Louisville Sept. 19, Alabama October 3, @ South Carolina Oct. 10

Schedule/Predicted Result: (7-5)

9/5 Miami Univ. (OH)               W
9/12 OPEN DATE                              
9/19 Louisville                             W
9/26 Florida                                   L
10/3 Alabama                                L
10/10 at South Carolina            L
10/17 at Auburn                           L
10/24 UL Monroe                         W
10/31 Miss State                            W
11/7 Eastern Kentucky               W
11/14 at Vanderbilt                      W
11/21 at Georgia                             L
11/28 Tennessee                            W